As*sart" (ăs*särt"), n. [OF. essart the grubbing up of trees, fr. essarter to grub up or clear ground of bushes, shrubs, trees, etc., fr. LL. exartum, exartare, for exsaritare; L. ex + sarire, sarrire, saritum, to hoe, weed.] 1. (Old Law) The act or offense of grubbing up trees and bushes, and thus destroying the thickets or coverts of a forest. Spelman. Cowell.

2. A piece of land cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for cultivation; a clearing. Ash.

As*sart", v. t. To grub up, as trees; to commit an assart upon; as, to assart land or trees. Ashmole.

• forest land cleared for agriculture
  
• to clear forest land for agriculture